It's Yusei Kikuchi day. Since he's been traded from the Blue Jays to the Astros he's become a changed man. He’s striking out everybody, 19 strikeouts in 11 innings and is not allowing too many runs and started two wins for the Astros. The Astros have won six straight and start a new streak similar to the one they had 4 weeks ago. The bats are hot again. Tampa Bay has lost the last two of three behind Shane Baz. Astros win.

Here's hoping we've caught the Astros early enough to take advantage of their current uptick which now reads six wins and counting. An added bonus for Houston is recent add Yusei Kikuchi, who has delivered as expected with 19 Ks thru 11 IP in his two Houston starts, both Astros wins. Note the Rays had all sorts of trouble gaining traction vs. Framber Valdez last night and could be in the soup again unless Shane Baz fares better than in his unremarkable outing at St Louis last Thursday, allowing four runs and six hits in just 4 1/3 innings of work. Play Astros on Money Line